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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. ___)*
Encore Capital Group, Inc.
--------------------------
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
---------------------------------------
(Title of Class of Securities)
292554102
---------
(CUSIP Number)
January 21, 2005
----------------
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:
[ ] Rule 13d-1(b)
[X] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)
* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
CUSIP No. 292554102
1. Name of Reporting Person
I.R.S. Identification No. of the above person (entities only).
Copper Beech Capital Advisors LLC
2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group.
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
3. SEC Use Only.
4. Citizenship or Place of Organization.
Delaware
5. Sole Voting Power
-0-
Number of
Shares 6. Shared Voting Power
Beneficially
Owned by 560,506
Each
Reporting 7. Sole Dispositive Power
Person With
-0-
8. Shared Dispositive Power
560,506
9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Reporting Person.
560,506 shares
10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares
N/A
11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
2.5%
12. Type of Reporting Person
OO
CUSIP No. 292554102
1. Name of Reporting Person
I.R.S. Identification No. of the above person (entities only).
Copper Beech Capital Management, Inc.
2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group.
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
3. SEC Use Only.
4. Citizenship or Place of Organization.
Delaware
5. Sole Voting Power
-0-
Number of
Shares 6. Shared Voting Power
Beneficially
Owned by 920,972
Each
Reporting 7. Sole Dispositive Power
Person With
-0-
8. Shared Dispositive Power
920,972
9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Reporting Person.
920,972 shares
10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares
N/A
11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
4.2%
12. Type of Reporting Person
CO
CUSIP No. 292554102
1. Name of Reporting Person
I.R.S. Identification No. of the above person (entities only).
Frank R. DeSantis, Jr.
2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group.
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
3. SEC Use Only.
4. Citizenship or Place of Organization.
United States
5. Sole Voting Power
-0-
Number of
Shares 6. Shared Voting Power
Beneficially
Owned by 1,481,478
Each
Reporting 7. Sole Dispositive Power
Person With
-0-
8. Shared Dispositive Power
1,481,478
9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Reporting Person.
1,481,478 shares
10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares
N/A
11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
6.7%
12. Type of Reporting Person
IN
Item 1(a): Name of Issuer:
Encore Capital Group, Inc. (the "Company").
Item 1(b): Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
5775 Roscoe Court
San Diego, CA 92123
Items 2(a) Name of Person Filing; Address of Principal Business Office
and 2(b):
This Schedule is being jointly filed by:
(i) Copper Beech Capital Advisors LLC ("Advisors"), a Delaware
limited liability company which acts as general partner to
two private investment partnerships (the "Partnerships"),
with respect to the shares held by the Partnerships;
(ii) Copper Beech Capital Management, Inc. ("Management"), a
Delaware corporation which acts as investment advisor to an
offshore investment fund (the "Fund") and an institutional
managed account (the "Managed Account"), with respect to the
shares held by the Fund and the Managed Account; and
(iii) Frank R. DeSantis, Jr., managing member of Advisors and
President of Management, with respect to all of the reported
shares.
The principal business address of each reporting person is 540 Madison Avenue,
33rd Floor, New York, New York 10022.
Item 2(c): Citizenship:
(i) Advisors is a Delaware limited liability company;
(ii) Management is a Delaware corporation; and
(iii) Mr. DeSantis is a United States citizen.
Item 2(d): Title of Class of Securities:
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock")
Item 2(e): CUSIP Number:
292554102
Item 3: If this statement is filed pursuant to ss.ss. 240.13d-1(b) or
240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:
(a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act.
(b) [ ] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act.
(c) [ ] Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the
Act.
(d) [ ] Investment company registered under Section 8 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940.
(e) [ ] An investment adviser in accordance with ss.
240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).
(f) [ ] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance
with ss. 240.13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(F).
(g) [ ] A parent holding company or control person in accordance
with ss. 240.13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(G).
(h) [ ] A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
(i) [ ] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940.
(j) [ ] Group, in accordance with ss. 240.13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(J).
Item 4: Ownership:
The following states the beneficial ownership of the reporting
persons as of February 14, 2005. This report relates to the
same shares of Common Stock which may be deemed to be owned
(i) directly (in the aggregate) by the Partnerships, the Fund,
and the Managed Account, none of which individually
beneficially own more than 5% of the class; (ii) indirectly by
Advisors, in its capacity as general partner to the
Partnerships; (iii) indirectly by Management, in its capacity
as investment advisor to the Fund and the Managed Account; and
(iv) indirectly by Mr. DeSantis, who, as principal of Advisors
and Management, has the power to direct the vote or
disposition of such securities.
ADVISORS:
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 560,506 shares
(b) Percent of class: 2.5%.
(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
(ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 560,506
(iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
(iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 560,506
MANAGEMENT:
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 920,972 shares
(b) Percent of class: 4.2%.
(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
(ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 920,972
(iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
(iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 920,972
DESANTIS:
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 1,481,478 shares
(b) Percent of class: 6.7%.
(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
(ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 1,481,478
(iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
(iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 1,481,478
Item 5: Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class:
Not Applicable
Item 6: Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another
Person:
The Partnerships, the Fund, and the Managed Account have the
right to receive dividends from and the proceeds of the sale
of the subject securities owned by such entities. None of such
parties individually owns beneficially more than 5% of the
class.
Item 7: Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which
Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding
Company:
Not Applicable.
Item 8: Identification and Classification of Members of the Group:
Not Applicable.
Item 9: Notice of Dissolution of Group:
Not Applicable.
Item 10: Certification:
By signing below each of the undersigned certify that, to the
best of the undersigned's knowledge and belief, the securities
referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the
purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the
control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired
and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any
transaction having that purpose or effect.
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of the undersigned's knowledge and
belief, each of the undersigned certify that the information set forth in this
statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated: February 16, 2005
COPPER BEECH CAPITAL ADVISORS LLC
/s/ Frank R. DeSantis, Jr.
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By: Frank R. DeSantis, Jr.
Managing Member
COPPER BEECH CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
/s/ Frank R. DeSantis, Jr.
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By: Frank R. DeSantis, Jr.
President
/s/ Frank R. DeSantis, Jr.
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Frank R. DeSantis, Jr.
JOINT FILING AGREEMENT
The undersigned hereby agree to the joint filing with each other of the attached
statement on Schedule 13G and to all amendments to such statement and that such
statement is and all amendments to such statement are made on behalf of each of
them.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby execute this agreement on February
16, 2005.
COPPER BEECH CAPITAL ADVISORS LLC
/s/ Frank R. DeSantis, Jr.
----------------------------------
By: Frank R. DeSantis, Jr.
Managing Member
COPPER BEECH CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
/s/ Frank R. DeSantis, Jr.
----------------------------------
By: Frank R. DeSantis, Jr.
President
/s/ Frank R. DeSantis, Jr.
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Frank R. DeSantis, Jr.